by By Dan Ninham
A new Idaho high school state track meet champion recently came back to Kooskia, Idaho.
Preston Amerman, 17, is a senior at Clearwater Valley High School in Kooskia, ID. He medaled in four events at the Class 1A Idaho State Track and Field Meet in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m and boys mixed relay.
Preston won the state track meet 800m race in a time of 1:58:25. Cole Wilkerson, Grace HS, placed a close second in 1:58:49.
“I am Nimiipuu (Nez Perce),” said Preston. “My Indian name is Co’laay’inma and means Little Boy Creek. I am from the Band Lam’taama meaning Whitebird/Salmon River People.”
“A critical timeline event that shaped and influenced my confidence in my ability was when I won all four events in one meet,” said Preston. “The 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and 2-2-4-8 medley relay at the Central Idaho Invitational in Lapwai, ID in early May 2021.”
“I was racing against all schools in my league, as well as a few additional high schools in Idaho,” said Preston. “I found it important to manage the intensity and energy of my races, have enough horse power to include a kick at the end of each race, and find the mental toughness in myself to compete at such a competitive level.”
Tribal core values help guide student-athletes in the direction they want to go. “I maintain a clean and healthy body, drink water that is sacred to my people, and eat healthy foods including traditional salmon, deer, elk, roots and other foods of my Longhouse. I diligently practice the beliefs and spiritual values of my church and Longhouse, be a good listener, abstain from drugs and alcohol and anything bad for my body, and strive to be good example, hard worker and leader that represents my family and the Nez Perce Tribe well.”
Positive influences also help guide student-athletes who strive to perform at a higher level.
“Preston grew up and lives in a fairly rural, remote, yet beautiful Clearwater Valley region of north-central Idaho, on the south side of the Nez Perce Reservation,” said dad Roger Ammerman. “When he was in elementary and middle school he tried participating in a variety of different sports activities from soccer, to basketball, to baseball, to horseback riding. His decision to join sports was often related to joining a sport that included his friends and social ties and not particularly an interest in the sport itself.”
“Running in track and cross country was different. He originally joined track and cross country because his friends joined, but he found that he truly found that he liked running for the sake of running. In middle school he aspired to improve his running skills, and he felt he could excel in running sports in high school,” added Roger.
“Preston told me that when he was in middle school, he shared with the upper classman runners that he was going to work hard and become an accomplished runner,” said Roger. “The older runners looked at the young undeveloped Native American middle school runner with braids, and made it clear to Preston that he would never develop into a great runner, because he didn’t have what it takes.”
“Preston did not let the comments of the upperclassmen alter his resolve to become a great runner,” said Roger. “Every year in high school he diligently worked at his running, went to a running camp in Montana, ran the long remote roads of north-central Idaho, and followed the detailed daily practice running workout plans of his coach.”
“Members of Preston’s family, including two uncles who also loved and respected running, noted his interest in running,” said Roger. “They supported him by attending his cross country and track meets, by buying him running shoes and track gear, and by giving him running tips. One uncle, Doug Jackson, lives near Salt Lake City, UT and the other uncle, Ray Ellenwood, lives on the other side of the Nez Perce Rez in Lapwai, ID.”
“Despite setbacks in his high school running career in his junior year by the COVID-19 virus, and no 2020 track season, Preston kept running in hopes of better times and more action in the fall 2020 and 2021 spring track season,” added Roger.
“This past school year his running accomplishment exploded,” said Roger. “In the local and regional newspapers of the Preston was voted ‘Prep Athlete of the Week’ two separate times in the Lewiston Tribune, as well as ‘Ram of the Week’ two different times in the Clearwater Progress.”
“We recently attended the late May year-end high school honors assembly at Clearwater Valley HS,” said Roger. “Unexpectedly, we witnessed Preston receive three awards for superior athleticism, engaged community involvement, diligent school pride, and gallant efforts to film the rich culture and heritage of Nez Perce peoples.”
Preston was awarded with the Ray Bowles Memorial Award for Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. This award was presented by Dave Harrington, former school principal and personal friend of 1964 Tokyo Olympic 10,000 meters gold medalist and Lakota tribal member Billy Mills. Mr. Harrington had recently talked with Billy Mills and told the school assembly that Billy Mills was excited to hear that a fellow Native American and member of the Nez Perce Tribe had so many long distance running achievements, and was a favorite to excel at the upcoming Idaho State Finals.
Preston also was recognized with the Bud Springer Most Outstanding All-Around Senior award for love of the community, for Clearwater Valley HS, and desire to help others.
“I can’t imagine the hours Preston invested in his schools theatre productions, school sports, school band, student government, mentoring under classman, and academics,” said Roger. “This recognition came with a $500 scholarship for the college of Preston’s choice.”
“Coach Calvin Woods instills a critical set of core values with the team,” said Preston. “He makes sure the team puts in their best effort, is disciplined, and insists that our teams are good ambassadors of our high school.”
“Coach Paula Willis who demands tough workouts from me which builds up my running performance in a strong and efficient manner,” said Preston.
“Preston has many positive attributes that have contributed to, and maximized his performance and leadership as a high school athlete,” said Allen Hutchens, Athletic Director, Clearwater Valley HS. “In my opinion, Preston’s self-confidence has contributed and maximized his overall performance success and leadership skills.”
“As a young runner Preston looked up to those individuals who believed in themselves and put in the time to be a champion,” said Allen. “It is evident by his success this year that his self-confidence pushed him to come from behind and win races that others would have settled for second.”
“Preston continued to believe in himself and his abilities to grow and run faster each day. As a student Preston often talked about his goals and the hard work it was going to take to get him to achieve those goals. Furthermore, Preston always finished those conversations with the comment, ‘I can do it, I know I can.’ He did it in record fashion, breaking a running school record at Clearwater Valley High that has been held since 1985,” added Allen.
“Preston’s can-do attitude and success has developed into a leadership role for those underclassmen who want to have the success he has,” added Allen. “While at cross country or track practice, Preston was the leader taking others under his wing and challenging them to be the best they can. His self-confidence paid off as he did not give up on himself or settle for anything less than his best.”
“Preston is a State Champion and has the self-confidence and self-love that will carry throughout his life,” said Allen. “His self-confidence paid dividends and I believe is the positive attribute that has maximized his performance and leadership as a high school athlete.”
Role model student-athletes also have words of wisdom for others. Preston said: “Stay disciplined with diligent training, don’t worry about your athletic or talent capacity when you first start out in a sport, and don’t stress or be concerned with the talent and abilities of others around you, just focus on the sport you love and enjoy, and you will naturally get better and more accomplished at it.”
“I originally started running in middle school track because I had friends that took the sport and I wanted to be able to participate in an afterschool activity with them,” said Preston. “I continued running all three years in middle school despite being a mediocre runner. I never got any awards in middle school and I often felt overlooked by my other teammates and my coaches.”
“One important moment for me was in eighth grade when I made a joke about wanting to be as fast as our schools fastest high school distance runner. Some of the older kids heard me and immediately told me in a serious tone that I will never be as fast as him because I wasn’t naturally gifted. I didn’t think of it much then, but I use it as a part of my fuel now that I am on the verge of being able to break his records and become a state champion.”
“I didn’t take track my freshman year so I could play baseball with my friends, but I did take cross country all four years. I had amazing teammates, coaches, and rivals to help push me in running to help me get faster and make running more enjoyable,” added Preston.
“I never ran to win races until my senior year,” said Preston. “I just ran to have fun and I believe that I still have potential to keep improving as an athlete.”
Preston will be attending Montana State University on the Bozeman campus next school year. He is planning to work on a degree in music production and music engineering. He also plans to walk on to the cross country and track teams although both teams asked him to go out for their running programs.
Preston Ammerman will soon be leaving high school as an Idaho state champion runner.
Photo and Caption Credit: Peter Caster and Dale Grummert
